Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-03-13
A VERY REMARKABLE FIGHT.
Four Elephants Against One Mana
Showmau's paring-The Hot Iron.

touF ittttnRuts
showmau's paring-The Hot Iron.
"Whilc travelling through the country
with Banum in 1881, said veteran
Snowman. IL witnessed one nf the most
REMARKABLE fights ON record. Four elc-
plants aguinst one man. and in the water,
too. In July or August, 1881. our slow
struck the pleasant lutte city of Ottawa,
Ills. lou are. doubtless, aware tlr:t cle-
phants are extremely fond Of bathing.
For somu little time before coming Ia
Ottawa they had been deprived Of that
pleasure. No sooner were they unload
cd from the train, however, than their
sharp little eyes caught sight of the river
and the news was trumpeted nGunt IN
elephant language from one Ia the other.
They were very rcstiyr all day and be-
trayed great anxiety To battle, and as soon
as the afternoon performance WAS over
the under keepers marched them 10 the
river bunk, | assure you many seconds
did not claINe before the whole herd,
twcnty-threc in number, were splashing
and daShing III the water Ike Il lot of
schoo, boys. Such a strange sight natur-
ally attracted the attention Of the towns
people and the farmers who. with their
families, had driven in to see the show,
and doubt very much whether the river
at Ottawa ever presented such an ami
mated appearance as ON that day,
after willie the keepers shouted
Mile up. which in elephant phraseology
means fall in. Nineteen Immediately
swan 10 shore, but no amount of shout
ing could induce the other four TO return.
Men were sent with rocks 10 the bridge
and the entire circus force swarmed
along both river hanks trying with stones
TO turn the huge beasts in the direction Of
the canvas, but all in vain. As a last re-
source the chief trainer. George Arting-
stall, was sent for. The poor fellow had
been sick in bed for over a week with
malaria. but ON learning of the difficulty
Immediately dressed himself and came TO
the bank. CalliTg each elephant by
name he ordered them 10 Mile up. For
a moment il looked as though his conf
mand would be obeyed. for the elephants,
recognizing his voice, halted and seemed
to wavcr in their course. Albert. the
oldestand biggest, however, settled the
matter by uttering loud snort Of def
ance, and led by him they once more
started up stream. Seeing at glance
that he could do nothing on shore, Mr..
Artingstall made for the dressing room
tent, from which h. soon emerged dressed
in tumbler's tights and, placing the ele-
phant prod or fork between his teeth,
boldly swan out to the elephants.
Used as we were 10 strange sights we
yet almost held our breath at this daring
act. When within few yards Of them
Artingstal again shouted mile up, but
without effect. Then, seeming to lose
his temper, he sprang upon the back Of
the nearest one and commenced using
his fork for all he was worth. Pretty
soon cry of rage came from the ami
NAL, upon which the trainer jumped
from that one 10 another, repeating the
fork performance until. after at least ten
minutes of fierce fighting and jumping.
the elephants creed peccavi and swan
tremblingly to the shore. Once there the
keepers soon had them under sujection,
hut Artingdale, who had displayed such
intrcpidity and courage. sank into dead
faint the moment he touched the shore.
Well, ! can't exactly say. but certainly
the mcnageric tent smelt Of burnt elc-
phant for al least two weeks after
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